Sunny&#39;s 3-in-1 putter attachment tool, for ball retrieval, magnetic ball marker retrieval, and repair of small divots and ball marks

ABSTRACT

Sunny&#39;s 3-in-1 putter attachment tool aims to relieve the frequent need to bend over and strain one&#39;s back, hips, or knees while tending to three frequent functions during golf, as well as reducing the need for multiple, separate tools. The multi-tool is designed for easy self-installation and enables the player to pick up golf balls, magnetized ball markers, as well as repair small divots and ball marks on the green, all without having to bend at the waist or knee.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application #63/338,286 filed on May 4, 2022

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While on the putting green, it is common courtesy to repair “damage on the putting green”, as referenced by USGA rule 13.1c(2) as of Jan. 1, 2019, such as ball marks and smaller divots that have caused damage to the grass surface.

In addition, a player on the putting green may retrieve one's own ball and replace it with a ball marker in order to (a) clean the ball, as referenced by USGA rule 14.1c, and (b) avoid interference or assistance with another player's golf ball, as referenced by USGA rule 15.3.

Players are often required to bend at the waist and knees in order to conduct three frequent functions of ball retrieval, ball marker retrieval, and ball mark repair.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Sunny's 3-in-1 putter attachment tool aims to relieve the frequent need to bend over and strain one's back, hips, or knees while tending to three frequent functions during golf, namely retrieval of one's golf ball, retrieval of one's magnetized ball marker, and repairing ball marks and divots on the putting green, as well as streamlining the need for multiple, separate tools.

Firstly, this 3-in-1 putter attachment tool enables the player to retrieve the golf ball from any ground surface—even a shallow body of water—while remaining in a standing position. The tapered design of the four fingers ensures consistent guiding of the golf ball and secure grip after retrieval. Secondly, there may be occasions when placement of a ball marker must follow compliant ball retrieval. This 3-in-1 putter attachment tool enables the player to retrieve the ball marker without having to align it as the entire structure of the tool will attract and hold the ball marker. Thirdly, this 3-in-1 putter attachment tool promotes and enables a player to repair ball marks and divots on the damaged green, all without having to bend and strain one's back or knees. The player pushes the properly spaced and pointed fingers around the divot. The partially compressed spring force will hold the four long fingers to evenly penetrate the sandy green surface. With only a few motions of pushing the fingers down into the depth of the divot, the action sufficiently moves the sand and roots of the damaged grass area to revive the surface and help the grass grow back in a healthy manner.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to golf accessories.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention in assembled, default position, ready for attachment to the putter

FIG. 2 is a top and side view of the invention components

FIG. 3 is a bottom and side view of the invention components

FIG. 4 is a side view of the invention components

SUMMARY OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

It has been recognized that this 3-in-1 attachment can be utilized on golf clubs other than the putter and for areas other than the putting green.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

-   -   10 a two fingers (on main body 16) with tapering thickness on         all sides, resulting in pointed end     -   10 b two fingers (on moving body 14) with tapering thickness on         all sides, resulting in pointed end     -   12 dowel pin     -   14 moving body (fitting onto the main body 16)     -   16 main body (fixed and immobile against the golf club)     -   18 attachment to putter (golf club)     -   20 holes (for dowel pin on moving body)     -   22 single and only compression spring     -   24 a base housing (for single and only compression spring, on         main body 16)     -   24 b alignment slot (for single and only compression spring, on         moving body 14)     -   26 hole for attachment screw     -   28 holes (for dowel pin on main body)

The following descriptions depict only example embodiments and are not to be considered limiting of its scope. Any reference herein to “the invention” is not intended to restrict or limit the invention to exact features or steps of any one or more of the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present specification. References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “various embodiments,” and the like, may indicate that the embodiment(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.

Reference to any included drawings is done throughout the disclosure using various numbers. The numbers used are for the convenience of the drafter only and the absence of numbers in an apparent sequence should not be considered limiting and does not imply that additional parts of that particular embodiment exist. Numbering patterns from one embodiment to the other need not imply that each embodiment has similar parts, although it may.

Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention, which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Unless otherwise expressly defined herein, such terms are intended to be given their broad, ordinary, and customary meaning not inconsistent with that applicable in the relevant industry and without restriction to any specific embodiment hereinafter described. As used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. When used herein to join a list of items, the term “or” denotes at least one of the items, but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. For exemplary methods or processes, the sequence and/or arrangement of steps described herein are illustrative and not restrictive.

It should be understood that the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence, arrangement, or with any particular graphics or interface. Indeed, the steps of the disclosed processes or methods generally may be carried out in various different sequences and arrangements while still falling within the scope of the present invention.

In one embodiment, as generally shown in FIGS. 1-4 , Sunny's 3-in-1 putter attachment comprises the main body 16, with two pointed fingers 10 a, each approximately 1.25 inches long, the moving body 14, with two pointed fingers 10 b, each approximately 1.25 inches long, and a method of secure attachment 18 to the club. The material of the entire embodiment is composed of a mixture of plastic and steel powder so as to retrieve and hold any magnetic golf ball marker.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment as fully assembled, in which the main body 16 serves as an immobile base to its precisely fitting moving body 14 counterpart. The main body 16 features a method of attachment, such as a screw 18, to secure the embodiment to the putter or other chosen golf club. The moving body 14 fits on top of the main body 16 and is held in place by a dowel pin 12, on which it pivots. Not visible in FIG. 1 is the single and only compression spring 22, which is located between the main body 16 and the moving body 14. In the embodiment's assembled resting position, the single and only compression spring 22 is approximately ⅓ compressed and serves to press up against the base of the moving body 14, thereby holding in place the moving body fingers and the main body fingers 10 a in its default resting position (without a golf ball). The ends of the moving body fingers 10 b and the main body fingers 10 a are tapered, which serve to guide the golf ball into alignment as it becomes locked between the four fingers. Compared to the base of the fingers, the reduced thickness at the pointed ends ensures successful ground penetration and divot repair.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show the main body 16 and the moving body 14 not assembled, and how the single and only compression spring 22 is aligned between both. The bottom end of the single and only compression spring 22 sits in the base housing 24 a, which is located on the base of the main body 16. The top end of the single and only compression spring 22 pushes up against the alignment slot 24 b, which is located under the base of the moving body 14.

When the main body 16 and the moving body 14 are assembled, the base housing 24 a and the alignment slot 24 b are vertically aligned. Countering the outward force of the single and only compression spring 22, the main body 16 and the moving body 14 are held in place by the dowel pin 12, along which the moving body 14 is able to pivot.

In ball retrieval mode, the embodiment is pushed against a golf ball for the purpose of hands-free retrieval. At this time, the four tapered ends of the fingers of the moving body 14 and the fingers 10 a of the main body 16 become pushed away from each other as the golf ball is locked into the space between. As the golf ball enters the space between the four fingers of the embodiment, the movement of the two fingers 10 b results in the base of the moving body 14 to pivot along the dowel pin 12, which further compresses the single and only compression spring 22. The bottom of the moving body 14 base is now in parallel alignment to the top of the main body 16 base. The resulting counterforce provides steady pressure and an even grip of the four fingers around the golf ball, enabling the golf ball to be securely held in place.

For the dowel pin 12, on the moving body 14 base, the holes 20 are located such that the dowel pin 12 extends along the moving body 14 diameter, crossing the base of the two fingers 10 b. On the main body 16 base, the holes 28 are located on either side of the base housing 24 a such that the dowel pin 12 extends along the main body 16 diameter, also crossing the base of the two fingers 10 a.

The dowel pin 12 insertion points are shown in FIG. 2 , FIG. 3 , and FIG. 4 . First, the dowel pin 12 enters one set of holes 20 on either side of the moving body 14 base, then through the holes 28 on the base housing 24 a of the main body 16, and out the other set of holes 20.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the moving body 14 as its vertical position relates to the main body 16, as well as the alignment of the holes 20 of the moving body 14 and the holes 28 of the main body 16, through which the dowel pin 12 passes. Also shown is the vertical alignment of the base housing 24 a relative to the alignment slot 24 b for the single and only compression spring 22. 

1. The invention claimed is: a 3-in-1 tool enabling a user with limited mobility the simplified and easy retrieval of standard-sized golf balls, retrieval of magnetized ball markers, and repair of small divots and ball marks, all without the need to bend at the waist or knees and without the need to utilize separate tools for each function, comprising: a fixed and immobile main body base designed to be self-installed to a putter or other chosen golf club; a moving body, designed to fit against the immobile main body base and pivoting along a dowel pin; counteractive forces of one single compression spring that securely holds into position the main body base and moving body during either ball retrieval or divot repair; two tapered, pointed fingers connected to the immobile main body base and two tapered, pointed fingers connected to the moving body, which are properly spaced to evenly penetrate the sandy green surface for effective divot repair, and which are designed to ensure consistent guiding of the golf ball and secure grip after ball retrieval, and; the fixed and immobile main body base with its two tapered, pointed fingers, and the moving body with its two tapered, pointed fingers being composed of a mixture of plastic and steel powder so that any region of the tool can attract and retrieve magnetized ball markers. 